Does anyone here have the ROLAND SHAW THE JAMES BOND THRILLERS VOL 3 album and if so, can I get an mp3 version of "Capsule In Space" which is number 2 on the record? My email address is drshatterhand@shatterhand007.com

As a connoisseur of spy knock-off albums, I of course have this LP. I sometimes like the knockoffs more than the originals! I will give this track a spin tonight along with the Barry track. I have not digitized any vinyl for a while so I'll have to make sure everything is still wired the same way.

For what it's worth, I spun both the Barry and Shaw versions back-to-back twice. Shaw's version is very similar in terms of content, orchestration, bar count, etc. but it does not unfold or build with the sense of drama or mystery that you hear in the Barry. The lack of crescendo may in part be blamed on Decca/London's fondness for compression and limiting, which were likely liberally employed here, at least on the pressing that I have.

Hope this is helpful until you can get your paws on the genuine article.

I read your post last night and had my hopes up too high. Thanks for trying.

As I suspected, my LP-CD unit is no longer working.

For what it's worth, I spun both the Barry and Shaw versions back-to-back twice. Shaw's version is very similar in terms of content, orchestration, bar count, etc. but it does not unfold or build with the sense of drama or mystery that you hear in the Barry. The lack of crescendo may in part be blamed on Decca/London's fondness for compression and limiting, which were likely liberally employed here, at least on the pressing that I have.

Hope this is helpful until you can get your paws on the genuine article.

Really love this album. Just wish it was remastered. The sound quality is atrocious. An LP rip would probably sound better than this CD.

My original LP version sounded over-modulated as well but I can't complain with the 2 CD version released a few years ago since the original tapes were probably rotting away in someone's closet. Still it would have been nice to include the Capsule in Space, Spectre Island, Guitar Lament, Death of Goldfinger, and Tania Meets Klebb.

Roland Shaw's "The World of James Bond Adventure' (TWOJBA) was my first LP and my introduction to John Barry music on albums.

This had tunes up to You Only Live Twice. Tantalizingly it didn't have OHMSS, which was the only Bond film I hadn't seen up to that point.

Hard for people to realize now but back in the seventies, original Bond soundtracks were very difficult to come by and often very expensive so most of us had to make do with Bond cover compliation albums.

The most common one seemed to be Geoff Love's Bond Themes but I didn't acquire that till later. But I think Roland Shaw's is far superior.

I particularly like his version of the 007 theme which was the last track on TWOJBA.

I wish I had it now as I loved the slow build up and the blasting brass towards the end. I last owned it on a tape cassette which I've long since lost.

Does anyone here have the ROLAND SHAW THE JAMES BOND THRILLERS VOL 3 album and if so, can I get an mp3 version of "Capsule In Space" which is number 2 on the record?

If I recall correctly, there were altogether eight Bond cues, including "Capsule in Space," that were left off the CD releases. The latest CD producers (the Cherry label) said they contacted UMG and asked what was available for a Roland Shaw CD. The resulting list of available Bond tapes from UMG is what made it onto the CD. No one seems to know what happened to the eight missing cues.

I'm locked out of my personal email here at work, but I will contact you by Friday 7/25 at the latest. My schedule keeps me off my home computer for certain intervals. Don't worry, the news is good.

Really love this album. Just wish it was remastered. The sound quality is atrocious. An LP rip would probably sound better than this CD.

My original LP version sounded over-modulated as well but I can't complain with the 2 CD version released a few years ago since the original tapes were probably rotting away in someone's closet. Still it would have been nice to include the Capsule in Space, Spectre Island, Guitar Lament, Death of Goldfinger, and Tania Meets Klebb.

The source of the 2 CD set is an LP rip actually as stated in the fine print in the booklet. It was one of my most disappointing soundtrack purchases in some time that I've made.

The sound of this release is really not good. If you compare the tracks with the Deram CD released of the 90's you will find that Deram must have had access to the original tapes as far as I can tell. It is still the superior release.

Further more, the tracks on the 2 CD set are not well assembled either.

The source of the 2 CD set is an LP rip actually as stated in the fine print in the booklet. It was one of my most disappointing soundtrack purchases in some time that I've made.

The sound of this release is really not good. If you compare the tracks with the Deram CD released of the 90's you will find that Deram must have had access to the original tapes as far as I can tell. It is still the superior release.

The Cherry 2-disc set was mastered from an LP? I don't see that in the booklet. Where do you see that?

I've always been happy with the Deram release: The odd cover photo is actually part of a publicity still from CASINO ROYALE.

The only thing I can see is the sentence "Little wonder that, in recent times, the vinyl albums from which these tracks stem have been fetching fees in excess of fifty pounds..." (paragraph near the end of page 7 of the booklet).

It may be awkward wording, but it does sort of suggest a vinyl source. I agree with other comments - the sound is very harsh. I'm sure I had another Roland Shaw Bond CD with similar sound. Virtually unlistenable anyway, and such a shame.

The only thing I can see is the sentence "Little wonder that, in recent times, the vinyl albums from which these tracks stem have been fetching fees in excess of fifty pounds..." (paragraph near the end of page 7 of the booklet).

It may be awkward wording, but it does sort of suggest a vinyl source. I agree with other comments - the sound is very harsh. I'm sure I had another Roland Shaw Bond CD with similar sound. Virtually unlistenable anyway, and such a shame.

Yes, that is exactly the "wording" - you have to read it twice to get behind its deceptive meaning, and it is the only hint you will find on the sources they used.

The 2 CD set (on Poker/Cherry Red) is a horrible release. I communicated with the company soon after the set was released and the producer or compiler kindly responded and, IIRC, wrote that they had to rely on vinyl sources for at least some of the tracks. But that isn't the worst problem with this release. The harshness comes from the mastering decisions: they decided to compress the life out of these tracks. Maybe they thought this approach would cover up the source deficiencies. It didn't work. I can't listen to this release without my ears aching...and that's at relatively low volume. If you know anything about the 'Loudness War', this is a horrible example of maximized mastering at its worst. The fellow from the company wrote that he liked how it sounded. Poor bugger must be deaf!

The other problem is that, in their continuing wisdom, the compilers decided to edit some of the tracks, apparently to avoid repetition. I don't have the set in front of me, but I remember "Kingston Calypso" being one of the worst examples: they lopped off the opening "James Bond Theme" portion!

Avoid at all costs!

I'm hoping that a company like Vocalion can revisit the Roland Shaw Bond / Secret Agent tracks, get the correct masters and give the sound the proper treatment it deserves. Based on the releases I have heard to date, they do an excellent job. If you like Bond covers, try their Si Zentner "From Russia With Love" CD (paired with "Warning Shot"). Si and his big band cover "The James Bond Theme," "From Russia With Love" and the "007 Theme." Great stuff!